How America's First Black Film Defied Racism 100 Years Ago

February 20, 2015 9:10 PM

11
0

Beginning his career in entertainment as a casting director and manager, the Philadelphia native worked on projects such as Prince's "Under the Cherry Moon" and "Purple Rain," before hitting the jackpot with his production of "Monster's Ball" in 2001. That film garnered Halle Berry a Best Actress Oscar, making her the first African-American woman to do so. In 2006, Daniels made his directorial debut with "Shadowboxer, which starred Oscar-winners Cuba Gooding Jr. and Helen Mirren. His latest directing gig, "Precious," was amongst the best of the 2010 awards season.

Besides Woody Allen, no other filmmaker has had more films on the big screen in the last 20 years than Lee. From "She's Gotta Have It" to "Jungle Fever" to the critically acclaimed and Oscar-nominated "Do The Right Thing," Lee's production company, 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks, has produced more than...